Saturday, April 6, 2013

So, I have had a rough afternoon today, and I have no earthly idea why. If just feel kinda bummed when really I have so much to be thankful for. Recently I was talking to a friend about how important it is to acknowledge our blessings in order to stay focused on the positive, so that is exactly what I thought I would do tonight to try to get myself out of this funk. I just thought I would start with a couple and maybe continue the list another time . . . if I was truly a good blogger, I might continue tomorrow, but as you all know, I'm not . . . and school starts back Monday, so I doubt I will be blogging again soon . . . we shall see.

One huge blessing I have is my friends . . . old and new. I started off this morning meeting with a friend at Starbucks, looking at the book of Mark and talking about life, what we are struggling with and who we are trying to build relationships with. I am so thankful for someone to have these conversations with. Renee is a true blessing to me!!!!

Earlier today a college friend told me she missed the daylights out of me. So sweet. I miss her too. It's been years since I saw Sheri, yet we can maintain a friendship and be an encouragement to each other, and I am so thankful for that. This week we had the amazing privilege of spending about 24 hours with some of our best friends from college (my roommate and maid of honor). It had been 16 years since we saw them, and yet the moment they walked in our front door, I just felt so blessed to have them in my life. They impacted me years ago and continue to impact me as I watch them live their lives in obedience to the Lord. Our hours with them were precious.

We have so many dear friends at church, at work, and in the community here. We have so many people back home in Oklahoma and other places whose prayers I sense on a regular basis and whose phone calls and visits I cherish. I am thankful for the lessons each one teaches me and the encouragement each provides. I could go on and on about so many specific people that it would take a book; these are just examples from today.

Going through rough spots, understanding them or not, causes me to think of the book of James, my favorite, I think, specifically James 1:2-4, "Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete lacking in nothing."

Tomorrow is a new day, and a day of celebration and worship. It will be better, and maybe at some point I can figure out what triggered my sadness today. It may be the fact that I turned 40 a week ago and have an 18 year old and spent time with friends from college this week, reminding me exactly how quickly time flies. However, I'm okay with being 40 and with where God has me in my life, so I hope that's not it. Just a reminder that counting my blessing is important.

About Me

First, I love Jesus and am so thankful that he is my Savior!! I am married to my amazing husband, Brent, and have three handsome sons and a beautiful daughter. We have planted a church in Bakersfield, California, and our prayer is that people will see Jesus in us and want to know more about him. I also work as a social worker for Pathway Family Services.

Romans 5:2b-5

And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, becuse we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us.